Guide to Writing a Social Action Program
(Written By Anna Avery, 2000 NFTY-SER SAVP and 2001 NFTY-SAVP)

Every SAVP must be able to convey their love and passion for Social Action and Social Justice through programs. Here are some basic Pointers for social action.
Judaism divides Social Action into 2 parts:

Limud - Education is an essential part of Social Action. Through education, people are able to make responsible decisions pertaining to the world.
Peulah - Action. Only through actions can we make lasting change occur. Without action, all efforts to educate are worthless.

BOTH PEULAH AND LIMUD ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE SOCIAL ACTION WORK.

1) BRAINSTORM

• Brainstorming is by far the most important social action tool to employ.
• Start with a big blank sheet of paper and begin to write down topic ideas
  (You can use the attached list or think of your own)
• Remember that ANYTHING GOES and you should be as creative and off the wall as possible in your brainstorming session.

2) Pick a Social Action program topic (see attached list or through your own research), keep the following in mind:

• Is the issue relevant?
• Is the issue important to you?
• Can you create a program about this topic that will keep the attention on the participants?

3) Begin to think of goals and objectives

• Social Action is fun and rewarding, and people will respond to your program if it is not water down or sugar coated. But BE CAREFUL how to present a topic so no one will be offended by it.

4) Check your program ideas, goals, and objectives against the following points

• Does it satisfy the broader goal of education and motivation participants?
• How will the program have a long term effect on the participants? Will they want to find out how they can become involved or want additional information? Do they know where to get that information?